Kairomonal effect of plant extracts for improving the performance of the Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii)

Results revealed that treating irradiated eggs of Corcyra chephalonica Stainton with hexane extract of cotton leaves and tomato leaves at 10000 ppm recorded maximum parasitism of 80.66 and 75.92% by T. chilonis, respectively whereas in control (Hexane) 40.66% parasitism was recorded. Maximum adult emergence (75.92%) was observed on hexane extract of tomato leaves followed by cotton leaves (72.67%). Similarly, the other biological parameters like fecundity, female longevity were also found to be influenced significantly by hexane extract of female cotton leaves viz., 70.04 eggs/female, 9.2 days female of T. chilonis, respectively. Further the effect of kairomonal compounds present in plants on per cent parasitism under potted plant condition showed that per cent parasitism by T. chilonis was significantly higher when stapled egg cards of C. cephalonica on cotton was treated with hexane extract of tomato leaves recording 67.33% and pigeon pea plants was treated with hexane extract of cotton leaves with 64.72% parasitism observed.